A Journey Through Time
Our History
A Journey Through Time
Filtrona’s legacy began in 1854 when Moritz Bunzl founded his haberdashery in Bratislava under the name “Bunzl.” By the late 1920s, Bunzl pioneered commercial filter production, refining the manufacturing process by 1927.
In 1948, the company opened its first dedicated facility in Jarrow, UK, and expanded globally, establishing a presence in the US during the 1950s and advancing into Asia in the 1970s and 1980s. The name Filtrona was adopted in 1979 and became the identity of the manufacturing group that separated from Bunzl in 2005.
In 2013, the company rebranded as Essentra plc to signify its expansion into industrial components. In November, Centaury Management Limited acquired the successful filters divisions and reinstated the Filtrona name, honouring its storied heritage of innovation.
Today, Filtrona stands as a global leader with 9 manufacturing facilities, Two Innovation Centres, an accredited laboratory, and a Centre of Excellence in sustainability. We offer an extensive array of solutions in filters and scientific services, continuing our tradition of excellence and innovation.
Our distinguished history propels us into a future filled with promise and opportunity.
1924
Boris Aivaz invented the first cigarette filter tip and developed a manufacturing machine for it. To bring his innovation to life, Aivaz sought help from Hugo Bunzl, who provided crucial R&D support through Bunzl’s paper mills.
1927
The first filter-tipped cigarette was introduced in Switzerland. The journey into cigarette filter production began in the 1920s, with a significant milestone reached in 1927 when Bunzl & Biach partnered with Aivaz (Boris Aivaz, the inventor of the crepe paper cigarette filter) to refine and advance his innovative concept at the company’s Ortmann factory.
1932
Bunzl & Biach (British) Ltd was founded in the United Kingdom. Within a few years, the company experienced a surge in global sales, distributing up to 370 tons of paper annually to 15 countries.
1940
The Bunzl family, driven out of Austria by the turmoil in Central Europe during the late 1930s, sought refuge in the United Kingdom and the United States. Rebuilding their lives from scratch, Hugo, George, and Martin Bunzl established a new business in London in 1940, naming it Tissue Papers Ltd.
1945
Cigarette Component Ltd was founded as a subsidiary of Tissue Papers Ltd, to specialise in the filter business.
1948
The first dedicated filter manufacturing plant was established in Jarrow, United Kingdom.
1954
- Cigarette Components obtained a license from Eastman to produce acetate filter rods.
- American Filtrona was established.
1970
- In 1971, a new manufacturing plant was set up in Thailand.
- In 1977, a new manufacturing plant was established in Indonesia.
1979
Cigarette Components was renamed Filtrona.
1983
Scientific Services was established in the United Kingdom to offer commercial testing services, helping customers to meet regulatory and product development requirements.
1993 – 2001
- Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, extensive investments were made in new, efficient manufacturing equipment.
- Several plants were opened in Greensboro (1993), India (1994), Jordan (1995), Venezuela (1999), Richmond (2000), and Paraguay (2001).
2005
Filtrona plc was spun off as an independent company. P.P. Payne was also demerged from Bunzl and became part of the Filtrona Group, where it was renamed Payne.
2007
- In 2007, a new plant was established in Hungary.
- In 2010, the Asia Development Centre was set up to support businesses in Asia.
2011
The filter head office was established in Singapore.
2013
- Filtrona plc was rebranded as Essentra plc.
- Essentra Dubai was established.
2021
Our joint venture in China commenced manufacturing operations.
2022
Essentra’s filters divisions were acquired by a new owner and rebranded as Filtrona once again.
Filtrona Heritage Gallery
Bunzl Paper SA Pte Ltd, Cape Town, Production of Acetate Rods
A.B. Suomen Filtrona, Helsinki, Finland
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory, Production of Myria Rods
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory, Interleaving Filter Material
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory, Production of Crepe Material
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory, Production of Crepe Rods
U.S. Filter Corporation, Richmond
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory
Cig Components, Artist Impression, Bletchley
Filtrona Filter G.m.b.H., Hamburg, 1960, double filter machine
Filtrona Componentes, Brazil
Filtrona Componentes, Brazil
Filtrona Componentes, Brazil
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory, Production of Acetate Rods
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory, Creping Machine
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory, Creping & Myria Prep
Cig Components, Jarrow Factory, Manufacture of Myria Material
